Clinicians told they overprescribe combination inhalers

Researchers from the Medco Research Institute presented data at the 2010 Annual Meeting of the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (ACAAI) showing that clinicians are prescribing ICS/LABA combination treatment for two thirds of patients with mild persistent asthma and that the combination therapy has no benefit for these patients compared to ICS alone. According to Medco, the combination treatment added more than $260 in annual cost without any reduction in rescue inhaler use, emergency department visits, or hospitalizations. Read the institute’s press release